It's Good To Bee Liam

[OGRE MAGE]

Farmer Joe keeps his head down and his mouth shut as Liam greets the others.

The busy farmer who helped Liam earlier nearly jumps out of his boots at the offer of milk and eggs.

"Well yes sir, master Liam. I am sure I could find a hungry belly or two that your offer would fit into. And me and my family thank you for it! I am sorry that there couldn't be more for everyone, but I understand your dilemma completely. You cant make a couple of eggs and a quart of milk feed a nation, after all. Tell you what, you can skip me and my family the next time you care to offer up food, ok?"

The man starts to move off towards the common house to collect a vessel to store the liquid when he spots the squash.

"Hey! That looks familiar. We have dug several of those out of this patch already, and several other varieties too. So, nobody should go hungry here for a day or two now anyway."

He directs Joe to the patch he was working as he pulls Liam aside. "You know that your friend there is a known thief around here, right? I am pretty sure he stole that squash, and right from this patch here, since his field aint produced more than stubby weeds since he's been here."

Farmer Joe gets to work helping the others as Liam spots Marge slowly making her way over to the fields as well.

"Oh and the names Caleb again, by the way. I will be right back!"

[Bluehorse]

"...Tell you what, you can skip me and my family the next time you care to offer up food, ok?"

He directs Joe to the patch he was working as he pulls Liam aside. "You know that your friend there is a known thief around here, right? I am pretty sure he stole that squash, and right from this patch here..."

Liam nods and is discrete about it, not wanting to humiliate the young man any more than he already is. "I do know that... he confessed after trying to sell it to me. To be honest, I am thinking of taking him on as help and give him a chance to earn a living rather than steal one. I wasn't much older when I was presented with an option to change myself. I aim to pay it forward if I can. I will keep an eye on him though, thank you." Then a bit louder as he moves with Joe over to the part of the patch they were working on. "Ah yes, here we go Joe! A little weeding and pruning. Isn't it nice of Master Caleb offered us such a task and we get to keep your squash as well. And here comes my favorite Lady of the Isles as well! Hale, Lady Marge! How are you this fine day? Hope you don't mind that me and my helper here are playing in the dirty like a pair of children. He smiles once she arrives, holding his bundle of weeds in one hand while pulling up another with his free hand, waving at her with it jokingly. He will keep a close eye on Joe to make sure he is on task as well, and gently redirect him as needed. To maintain a good example, he continues pulling weeds even after greeting Marge, trusting her to recognize what he is doing to guide the young man.

[OGRE MAGE]

Joe keeps his head down and his hands busy.

"Why isn't my field coming up like this one did?" He mumbles to himself as he works.

Marge arrives with a big smile for Liam, right up until she sees who he is referring to. She shakes her head and gives the newcomer a concerned look.

"Idle hands are devils tools, I always say. I had heard that Wes worked his magic on one of the food plots, but I didn't expect to find anything like this. I have seen folks walking around with armfuls of vegetables to eat for the first time in months."

"Though I am not surprised to find you in the middle of the work again, Liam. How are your animals faring so far in this heat? Are they getting enough water?"

[Bluehorse]

Joe keeps his head down and his hands busy.

"Why isn't my field coming up like this one did?" He mumbles to himself as he works.

Liam looks to him. "I hear rumor that the local druid cast a spell on it... but if you give it some time and some work, and listen to a few of my own ideas, I am sure we can get you producing as well. Either way, I think one we show some progress on your own plot, we can ask the same favor from the man. For now, let's show some willingness to help. That will go a long way in bringing some positive attention to you as well. I will also ask if we can take some of these weeds to feed the animals."

Marge arrives with a big smile for Liam, right up until she sees who he is referring to. She shakes her head and gives the newcomer a concerned look.

"Idle hands are devils tools, I always say. I had heard that Wes worked his magic on one of the food plots, but I didn't expect to find anything like this. I have seen folks walking around with armfuls of vegetables to eat for the first time in months."

"Though I am not surprised to find you in the middle of the work again, Liam. How are your animals faring so far in this heat? Are they getting enough water?"

Liam nods and grins mischievously. "And do you have devilish hands, Lady Marge?" He chuckles and yanks another weed from its place, happy to see a nice bare patch of dirt in his wake as he works his way forward. "My pigs cannot get enough of these lovely weeds... I hope we can find more before we go..." He nods over to Joe as his suspicions about the magic was confirmed. "See? Maybe we can get some magic your way soon. My animals seem to be doing fine. I just handed over the last payment as it were for Caleb over there. Well, I will be when he gets back with a bucket. I have another share here of milk and one more egg. You are welcome to both. I would like to ask you to work out a rotation for getting milk and eggs out to people in the most need. My thoughts are children and baring or nursing mothers first, then the workers, and if you will forgive my lack of a better way to put this... everyone else. Of course, if we get many more fields working half as well as this one, it may not matter soon. I think I can have another load of manure ready soon to help in that task. Sow the fields with it. I think Joe's here might be first to give it a little boost. What are you trying to grow, Joe? If it is the crop itself not doing well, perhaps we need to make it a point to begin saving some of these seeds from successful plants..." he muses. Always thinking... always looking for solutions. "Oh, Marge, forgive a rude old man... This is Joe, I trust you have already met though. Joe here approached me with an interest in becoming my apprentice, didn't you, Joe? I will be taking responsibility for this young man for the time being. He will learn how to take care of my animals and eventually if things go well, I will teach him how to make harvest honey as well as make meade. A good honest trade that he can be proud of as well as learn a few other things along the way."

Liam pointedly looks at Joe as he makes his decision to truly take the young man in as a Ward. He hopes the weight of this sinks in for the young man that this really is a rare type of seconds chance.

[OGRE MAGE]

Farmer Joe looks puzzled at first when his positive thinking lecture begins, but he seems delighted at the idea of his sickly farm plot getting a possible boost by the druid.

“Really? You know him? You could ask him to do mine like this here too?”

At the mention of feeding the weeds to the animals, he really gets excited.

“Well I’d be right happy to grab up a few armfulls a this scrap here ta feed yer critters with, sir! I could make sure they gets plenty a water too!

He gets to work pulling and gathering as much of the garden weeds as he can carry, setting them on a pile to eventually bring to the animals. Once Liam hints at the idea of taking him in and teaching him his trade, the young man gets a bit choked up again.

He sobs softly and points at Marge.
”But........but........but she said I’d never mount ta nuthin! An everyone here thinks me a simpleton. No one ever talked ta me like you do. Never gave lil Joe a chance! But I can do good things too! I already know how to do lots of things, I just need a chance to prove myself! I am ready to take ya up on that offer anytime, sir! Wadda ya say......boss?” With a grin from ear to ear, the dolt just sneers at Marge as she looks on in disbelief.

She motions for Liam to walk away for a private chat.

“There’s.......ah.......something I should prolly tell you.”

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Makes note of his reactions... all of them. Then he nods to Marge and excuses himself to have a word with her. Yes, ma'am?

[OGRE MAGE]

Marge looks Liam in the eyes and tells her story.

”I am glad that you thought to offer help to the expecting and new mothers, friend. We have a few ladies here that could use this food far more than me. And I will see that this, and your next batch gets to them. Especially after what happened with the Olsens.”

She sighs heavily, takes a deep breath, and continues.

“A nice young couple came here about 2 months back now. They brought the only thing of value that they had with them, Annie, a beautiful newborn baby girl. A lot of folk scoffed at first, especially since there weren’t even enough room in the common house to put them up at first. Well, a kind old fishermen here at the time let them stay in his beached boat so they would have a little space for themselves. It wasn’t the perfect situation, but it was better than sleeping in the dirt. Sadly, a couple of nights after that, something horrible happened.”

The poor child turned up missing one morning, stolen right from her sleeping mothers arms. The community was devastated! We searched everywhere and never found a single sign or clue as to what happened with the baby. Some people said it were the treefolk what took her, but I was never convinced. Then a few days later, slow Joe walks into town from up the beach, carrying the only clue ever found by anyone, little Annie’s baby blanket.”

“Now Joe ain’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed if you get my meaning, but I never took em fer a creep or weirdo either. But he didn’t have no reason to have that blanket. And you can imagine what some folks thought about it. He claimed he found it washed up on shore, and that he didn’t have anything to do with taking the baby, but some folks still don’t buy that he ain’t involved somehow. Not one other shred of information ever came out since, either”

“A lot of folks don’t trust, or really much care for Joe these days. You sure he’s the right fit for what yer trying to do out here?”

[Bluehorse]

Liam

He takes a slow deep breath as he considered this. Devil's advocate. he says, speaking softly. I hear what you are saying. I agree that him having the blanket looks bad, but that is rather circumstantial, however, let's assume it is true. Would it not be better to have him 1. busy. 2. where I, and others, can keep an eye on him without letting him know directly they are keeping an eye on him.

Now... the baby... what else do we know? Has anyone come upon any leads or clues?

[OGRE MAGE]

Marge

"No! No leads. No clues. She just disappeared into thin air one night, stolen right off of the beach. It was pretty darn sad, but we have all we can do to survive here, so there wasn't even much time for grieving over the poor little thing."

Marge thinks about the wisdom in Liam's words about keeping an eye on Joe.

"You know, you just might be on to something there, friend. That makes a lot of sense, I guess. Again, I don't really believe that he is capable of such a thing as kidnapping, but you just never know about some people. We had a priest here when we first started building our little community. He was a strange one, to be sure, but he was also helpful and wise about many things. I always thought he was a creep, but he was a helpful creep. Then, one day, he just disappeared into the jungle and never came back here again. Some think he just died out there somewhere, but I always thought that guy was one person who could handle himself, if ya follow my meaning. Just goes to show you that you don't really know someone until you really know them, huh?"

[Bluehorse]

"No! No leads. No clues. She just disappeared into thin air one night, stolen right off of the beach. It was pretty darn sad, but we have all we can do to survive here, so there wasn't even much time for grieving over the poor little thing."

Liam nods and ask. Are the parents still around?

We had a priest here when we first started building our little community. He was a strange one, to be sure, but he was also helpful and wise about many things. I always thought he was a creep, but he was a helpful creep. Then, one day, he just disappeared into the jungle and never came back here again. Some think he just died out there somewhere, but I always thought that guy was one person who could handle himself if ya follow my meaning.

You say he was strange... strange how? Was he just eccentric? A zealot? When you say he was a creep, was he a little leery at the ladies, or just gave a weird presence? By handle himself, like skilled or was he connected in some way?

I don't intend this to be like he is machine-gunning questions at her, just how they would likely come up in a conversation so we keep a few posts from becoming like 30 Hope you are enjoying Gamehole!!!

[OGRE MAGE]

Maarge is happy to engage the flirty man with more conversation.

"Why yes, they are still here on the island. Though they understandably aren't very outgoing with strangers. They stay in one of the common houses now, I think."

"And Gorman was a strange one, yes. But not in a sexual miscreant sort of way. He was definitely eccentric, though I wouldn't have called him a zealot. In fact, he never really talked about the god he worshiped at all......not that I remember anyway. That does seem a little odd to me now as well. Dark, quiet, and a bit of a fright to look upon. And when I say he could handle himself, I meant that I don't think he would have gone down without a fight. He was always quick with his magic and like I said, he used it to help around here, initially."

[Bluehorse]

Liam nods and listens which seems to be his habit. Thank you for sharing this with me. I think I will keep Joe close. Nice and busy, too. Idle hands, as you said. Now I have to switch the subject a bit... when do you think we can get that new rotation of guard duty going? Reythan had to run off some more entropenures last night... I hate to admit it, but he needs to get a full night's sleep soon.
As for me... I admit nothing... he offers a smile and a wink. Once Caleb gets back for his milk, Joe and I are going to head back and feed these weeds to the animals before we get started on digging out a foundation for my house. I want to get out of poor Reythan's hair a bit. He has been good to me these last couple days, and I don't want to outstay my welcome. You are more than welcome to come with us. I know it is not exactly country fair, but I have some rations to share and I would like to show you a bit more of my animals as well as what my longer term plans are.

[OGRE MAGE]

Marge blushes at the wiry mans ongoing innuendos as Caleb returns with his container.

"I do have a short list of 6 folks to start out with. Caleb here is right at the top. I can organize the times folks will keep watch, unless you would prefer to do that? I don't have a fool proof system figured out yet, but if I can convince these 6 to take a two hour watch sometime throughout the night, that should allow both of you to get in some normal rest."

At the offer of lunch, the large woman beams with a big smile.
"Well, I though you would never ask me out to eat, gorgeous. Just lead the way!"

After Caleb gets his milk, Liam turns to find Joe. The mentally challenged farmer has quite an impressive pile of roughage for the animals already bundled and ready for transport.

"Think this'll get them critters a yers through another day er 2, boss?"

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Upon Caleb's return, Liam winks to Marge and gives the man his share of the milk and eggs; then replies, I hope you don't mind, but Joe and I have bundled up some of these weeds for feeding the livestock. Which brings me to my next question, Once these plants are done producing, what would you think of us setting up a series of pens on the field itself, temporarily let the animals glut themselves on the plants her before you plow and sow for the next crop? They clear the mess, leave their own to replenish the soil, and we can then move them accordingly to the next field or back to my place. I would assume they could come back each night for safety, but I have no problem bringing them back and forth if this is agreeable.

To Marge: I have no preference for how we work in the rotation, I simply insist on always being a part of each night. I will not have people getting the wrong impression that I am trying to push off work on others. I will pull my weight and more whenever I can. I truly hope that there will be a time when we can dispense with the entire practice of having to guard the animals against ourselves. It sends the wrong message in the long run in my opinion; but for now, we will have to do what needs to be done, I suppose. Caleb, my good man? What say you to all this? I value your insight as well as anyone's.

"Think this'll get them critters a yers through another day er 2, boss?"

Liam makes it a point to beam to his new Apprentice. Very well done, man. Let's you and I split this up so you are not burdened with the entire load. We're not jackasses after all, are we? Don't answer that... he says cheekily to Caleb and Marge. He will work out the bundle of weeds so he can hold it under one arm and still carry the bucket with one last share of milk in the bottom. He looks to Caleb and Marge again. There will be some more milk this afternoon of course. I have need of one share to pay back Reythan for some of his overwhelming hospitality which I am sure you can understand, but if either of you can think of a couple people that need to be at the top of the list for this evening, I would be happy to know.

Once preparations are made, Liam will smile and offer his bucket Layden arm to Marge. My Sweet Lady Marge, would you accompany me to L'Chataue Swine for conversation and luncheon under a shade tree?


Just making a note here for myself that I also want to stop by Mr. Nehu's on the way as well.

Also, I hope you don't mind me taking a liberty here to assume that the goats produce about 6 measured shared of milk each morning and afternoon since 22.5 gallons per day that they would be making right now comes out to just about 6 gallons, and I was thinking each share would be about half a gallon since it would need to be consumed within the day before it went bad. So whatever your thoughts are on that for how much help is going out from them already.

As always, please let me know your thoughts next we can shoot the shit about manure! (Seriously... though. I plan on that.)

[OGRE MAGE]

Caleb takes his milk and egg happily. “I’m an early riser, Mister Liam. If you want, I would be happy to bring some of my chores over by you first thing in the mornin. That way I could take the last watch for ya, around 4 bells er so. I could keep busy while I keeps an eye on yer animals, no problem.”

Marge nods enthusiastically. “And I can’t fall asleep till after midnight anyway, so I could take the first watch if you’d like. I can organize someone different to come each night so the rest of us just need to fill in the gaps. We will have a regular schedule set up in no time flat. Then you wouldn’t even have to bother your weird elf friend with it at all.”

Caleb agrees wholeheartedly with the idea of setting up a portable pen that can be moved from field to field so the animals can graze through the spoils and fertilize the soils, all at the same time. “That’s brilliant, really. I can see you ain’t no dummy when it comes ta farmin Mister Liam.”

“If’n you really want my two cents, I’ll give em. I suggest you get a barn put up for that livestock, and soon. We got some pretty large predators round these parts, and those animals would be sittin ducks outside if even one of them came around here at night. We got em pretty well hunted out nearby, due to the food shortage and all, but the less hunters out there, the more chance one will come back around. And no, I ain't juss tryin ta scare ya, Marge. I’m being as serious as a ankheg infestation here!”

“That’ll also solve yer night watch problem right there as well.”

Slow Joe takes the compliments with a beaming smile, genuinely happy he can help do something he can actually handle. “We had a spunky little elf brat roun ere not long back, his’a name was Jack, too. We all called him Jackass b’hind his back. That was funny!”

Marge just blinks for a second and takes Liam’s arm to walk the short trek back to the elf’s log home in the trees. Raythan has spent his morning constructing long drinking troughs out of huge sections of bamboo that are cut in half the long way. He sets his troughs up just inside the pen and begins a prayer to Celestian. Right as you arrive, the troughs magically fill themselves with cool, fresh water. The half-elf smiles at the power of his deity when Joe ruins the moment.

“Ooooohhhhhh.....aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! I could never grow tired a seeing magic happen. Do it again Mister Rayban! Do it again!!!”

Always round down and take 10% off the top for any production due to the less then perfect surroundings here. (heat, humidity, insects, etc.)

[OGRE MAGE]

With adventurers returning to town now, I might bump the time in this thread ahead about a half a day or so. Let me know if that is going to be a major problem. We can definitely ret-con anything you want to do in that amount of time, I just don't want the time in town to be spread over multiple days if I can avoid it.

Thanks!

[Bluehorse]

takes his milk and egg happily. “I’m an early riser, Mister Liam. If you want, I would be happy to bring some of my chores over by you first thing in the mornin. That way I could take the last watch for ya, around 4 bells er so. I could keep busy while I keeps an eye on yer animals, no problem.”

Marge nods enthusiastically. “And I can’t fall asleep till after midnight anyway, so I could take the first watch if you’d like. I can organize someone different to come each night so the rest of us just need to fill in the gaps. We will have a regular schedule set up in no time flat. Then you wouldn’t even have to bother your weird elf friend with it at all.”

Liam claps his hands once with a smile. Excellent! We have a plan. Marge, you and I can pen it down when we get back and work out the finer details, but I think we will have a much easier go of it already. I volunteer for whatever space we have trouble filling. I am no stranger to odd hours.

agrees wholeheartedly with the idea of setting up a portable pen that can be moved from field to field so the animals can graze through the spoils and fertilize the soils, all at the same time. “That’s brilliant, really. I can see you ain’t no dummy when it comes ta farmin Mister Liam.”

The semi nobleman smiles, happy to hear his idea holds water. Let me know when you are getting close to ready, and we will organize it. Save some people some hard work and help things along. I would like to see everyone get a little rest when they would otherwise be bent over weeding out their fields. Who knows! Maybe the pigs will root out something! Some truffles would be a nice find. Joking aside, the animals are, of course, producing fertilizer, if you follow me. There is not a lot just yet, and as an afterthought, I wish I'd have had the foresight to get a wheelbarrow. I would like to spread the black gold around if you can think of and plots that will be sown soon, we can get to work on that as well. I think we can get at least a few gallons a day from what they have been making just from mucking the pens. I had thought of starting on Joe's plot since he has apparently had trouble. this last part is said at a whisper. Your professional opinion... is there any hope for his field or are we farming rocks out his way? I am taking him on as an apprentice, but I have a long-term goal for him. Either way, I would like to see the plot made productive in the process for the sake of the town.

“If’n you really want my two cents, I’ll give em. I suggest you get a barn put up for that livestock, and soon. We got some pretty large predators round these parts, and those animals would be sittin ducks outside if even one of them came around here at night. We got em pretty well hunted out nearby, due to the food shortage and all, but the less hunters out there, the more chance one will come back around. And no, I ain't juss tryin ta scare ya, Marge. I’m being as serious as a ankheg infestation here!” [ /quote ]

There you go! A brilliant idea. I have the tools of course... What I would need is materials. Now you have told me there are native species or people living in the trees here, correct? Has there been any effort to find a space where we can do some cutting and not infringe of their territory? I have enough lumber for my own home, which I am planning to start on this afternoon, but it is kind of a kit like the pens and housing for the animals. I don't have enough for a barn. I suppose a log structure like Brother Reythan's would be the most secure and frankly, fastest method. And if you don't mind me asking... what is an ankheg?

takes the compliments with a beaming smile, genuinely happy he can help do something he can actually handle. “We had a spunky little elf brat roun ere not long back, his’a name was Jack, too. We all called him Jackass b’hind his back. That was funny!” [ /quote ]

Liam smiles and informs him that Jack is the name of his mule... and waits for that to sink in.

Before they fully depart, he will head them towards Mr Nehu's place and knock on the door. When the man answers, he will hand him the bucket with the last share of milk. Some of the early fruits of our labors, sir. I wanted to bring you some as proof of progress. We will be sharing this out to everyone as we can twice a day, as several people here can attest to. Also I have this for you... Liam hands his a short report on a slip of paper showing what the animals have consumed and what they have produced, as well as a brief outline of plans made up until before he left this morning. I hope you find this agreeable. Also, if you would be so kind to let those whom it may concern, that I am officially taking Joe here on as my apprentice. Any issues or grievances should come to me, and I will deal with it accordingly. I will bring you similar reports as needed if you so desire, just for record keeping.

just blinks for a second and takes Liam’s arm to walk the short trek back to the elf’s log home in the trees. Raythan has spent his morning constructing long drinking troughs out of huge sections of bamboo that are cut in half the long way. He sets his troughs up just inside the pen and begins a prayer to Celestian. Right as you arrive, the troughs magically fill themselves with cool, fresh water. The half-elf smiles at the power of his deity when Joe ruins the moment.

Bless my soul, Brother Reythan! What an ingenious idea and display! I can see you have been busy this morning! May your God and all others smile on your for your labors. He turns to Joe as he puts down the now empty bucket and his bundle of weeds. Alright apprentice... Take these weeds and begin giving them out to the animals. Start with the pigs and work your way down. Snap off anything that is seeds or grain, and save those for the pigeons and chickens. The chickens can munch the weeds as well, but won't need much at all. Please, let me know when you are done. Liam will keep a subtle eye on him and offer redirection when needed. He will then go inside and come back with a few sheets of paper, his pen and ink, and a ration for each of them, including Joe when he finishes his work. Assuming Caleb and Marge think it is good raw, he will also split up the large squash between them all. As they eat he will work out with everyone how to make up a schedule for rotating watch shifts so that it can be posted, and then address the idea about designing a barn for the animals. Thirdly, he will discuss how best to make a temporary pen around the fields for the animals to graze clear and fertilize them, asking if they should make a larger enclosure or smaller one that can be moved section to section. Then he will switch to asking Marge, Caleb, Joe, and Reythan about their lives. Making for general relaxed conversation but also to try to get to know them a little more... and make Ogremage have to work more on DM stuff because the player is evil like that and happy Thanksgiving and all that. I for one and thankful for this game and the way you have run it this past year, and how you have let me take a wild idea like a Viking beekeeping ex-nobleman and turned it into the most fun interaction I have had these past months. Thanks friend! Liam will also point out that Marge has beautiful eyes and tease her flirtatiously, asking everyone else if they think the same thing about the pretty lady to draw out some laughs before he reaches out to give her hand a squeeze before he stands up and stretches. Well, I suppose I need to get to work, and I have certainly kept the rest of you from your's for long enough. Please, forgive a sentimental fool. He grins. If anyone is interested he will take them to check on the bees briefly and see how they are coming along, explain the processes etc. Then it is time to start marking off where his home will be built.

Always round down and take 10% off the top for any production due to the less then perfect surroundings here. (heat, humidity, insects, etc.)

Sounds good, Boss!

[Bluehorse]

we can move forward. Just let me know what progress will have been made with house animal production etc and what actions you need me to state

[OGRE MAGE]

... and make Ogremage have to work more on DM stuff because the player is evil like that and happy Thanksgiving and all that. I for one and thankful for this game and the way you have run it this past year, and how you have let me take a wild idea like a Viking beekeeping ex-nobleman and turned it into the most fun interaction I have had these past months. Thanks friend!

Are you hiding this in the post to check if I am actually reading all of these?

You're welcome, by the way. And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well.

[Bluehorse]

LOL! Actually no! Just wanted you to stumble upon it.